190 DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XI.— B. S. 
forming the minority, they had to submit. After the 
search had been gone through all re-embarked, and 
arrived at Chagres on the 9th of March. 
A boat was sent to Portobelo to ask the Spanish 
authorities for a ransom of the castle of San Lorenzo. 
Their answer, however, as had been anticipated, was 
that Morgan might do whatever he pleased, they would 
not give a single real for the place. It was accordingly 
razed to the ground, and, there being no further pro¬ 
spect of booty, the spoil was divided. This proceeding 
gave rise to much disappointment; instead of the 
golden treasures expected to be divided, each man, 
after all the toil and danger he had undergone, re¬ 
ceived only the scanty sum of two hundred pieces of 
eight; the rest Morgan kept for himself. The whole 
community was exasperated in the highest degree, and 
loudly demanded their proper share; no sooner, how¬ 
ever, did Morgan see difficulties arising than he slipped 
his cable, and, accompanied by four other ships, his 
accomplices in the fraud, effected his escape to Ja¬ 
maica. The indignation of the fleet knew no bounds 
on finding themselves deserted, cheated in the grossest 
manner, and unprovided with every necessary for the 
continuation of the voyage. 
With this act Morgan seems to have concluded his 
piratical career. He was undoubtedly a man who 
not only displayed infinite bravery, but the highest 
qualities of a great commander; unhappily, however, 
like most of his predecessors, he was cruel, blood¬ 
thirsty, and treacherous. He was afterwards knighted 
by Charles II., and became successively Commissioner 
